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COUNTRY OF DISTINCTION: BRITAIN

Britain has officially legalised gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal assent to a bill approved by both houses of parliament, paving the way for the first same-sex weddings to take place next year.

MPs in parliament’s lower House of Commons first voted in favour of gay marriage in February, despite fierce opposition from some Conservative MPs. The House of Lords formally approved the bill on Monday, and it went back to the Commons for their final nod on Tuesday night after MPs agreed to changes such as ensuring protections for transgender couples.

The Queen’s assent, given in her capacity as head of state, was then announced in both chambers of parliament on Wednesday, at which point it became law.